Cleveland-Cliffs Cuts 500 Jobs at Stelco Operations in Ontario

Cleveland-Cliffs Suspends 500 Stelco Jobs

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. temporarily laid off 500 workers at its Stelco operations in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario, the company reported in late September, with the action disclosed in coverage by Toronto Star, thecanadianpressnews.ca, and BNN Bloomberg. The move falls within the Materials sector and was reported in the period covering October 19–20, 2026.

The company said elevated U.S. tariffs and a weak domestic galvanized steel market flooded by imports prompted the decision, according to those reports. CEO Lourenco Goncalves attributed the layoffs to current market conditions and urged stronger government measures for galvanized steel, saying improved conditions would permit rehiring and the restart of the Hamilton galvanized department, per the cited coverage.

Those sources note the layoffs are temporary and affect unionized workers at Stelco. Cleveland-Cliffs had committed, as part of its Stelco acquisition, to maintain unionized employment levels in Canada for five years; Canada’s industry minister warned the layoffs could violate that agreement and indicated potential legal action, the reports said. The company has been profitable overall recently, but management cited specific pressures in the galvanized steel segment as the cause for the workforce reductions.

Reported details

• Company: Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. (Stelco operations)
• Employees affected: 500
• Locations: Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada
• Timing: Temporary layoffs announced Sept. 28 and reported in coverage during Oct. 19–20, 2026
• Sources: Toronto Star, thecanadianpressnews.ca, BNN Bloomberg

In summary, public reporting indicates Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. implemented temporary layoffs of 500 Stelco employees in Ontario, citing challenges in the galvanized steel market and cross-border tariff dynamics, with government officials signaling possible legal scrutiny of the action.